Recent Purchases

I received an email this morning from Sephora that there was a new 500 beauty point perk for a Laura Mercier kit.  I needed to replenish my Two faced shadow insurance and my Nars Laguna Bronzer so I went ahead and purchased them so I could add this great perk to my cart.  I've not tried that many LM products so it's a good opportunity to get several samples.  As a special surprise for me, not only did I qualify for free shipping but I also had $19 in store credit where I returned something back in the spring and totally forgot about it.

On Sunday R and I visited the Winterville Watermelon festival.  We were bored and wanted something "different" to do....and I wanted a funnel cake.  I found a booth where a local craftsman had several woodworks for sale.  We walked away with this bird house for $15.  I can't believe it, if we had purchased this at a pottery or garden store we wouldn't have bought it for less than $40.  I can't wait to see it hanging in our back yard. 

 

I've been wanting a Hobo wallet/clutch for a while but with all the wedding expenses I couldn't justify spending $130 on one.  I was looking at a local department store and found a Hobo in a discontinued pattern in the clearance section marked down to $77.  I asked if I could use the 20% off coupon from the Sunday circular on redline clearance and they allowed it!  I walked away with this bag for less than half of the original pricetag.  I love the pattern!

 Kate Spade sent an email last week welcoming me to a secret sale / 2 day event.  It coincided with the big Lilly Pulitzer end of season sale so I had a big decision to make.  I couldn't give up a great deal on a handbag though.  A few months ago I purchased a fun Kate Spade bag in coral and I've carried it most of the summer.  I'll continue to carry it into the fall since bright colors are in but I'm sure closer to winter I'll need a more neutral option.  This Southport Avenue Aurelia in Hazel is beautiful and thanks to the sale I received it 65% off.

 When I found out my start date for my new position at work I knew I would need a different planner as my old one had my schedule for only 2 clinics for the upcoming months.  I decided it would be great to have a fun one to also keep my important wedding dates and chores in.  This Lilly Pulitzer agenda goes from August 2012 to December 2013 and has several sections.  There is a full calendar or "quick look" monthly calendar in the middle where I keep all wedding related information.  There is a more extensive "weekly calendar" in the back where I can write all my work related notes and tasks.

 A bauble necklace in pink.  I've wanted one of these for a while so when I was in Raleigh I popped by a favorite boutique and purchased it.  They had so many colors - yellow, mustard, green, blue, mint, pink, purple, burgandy, white....I wasn't sure which one to get.  I wear a lot of black and I knew the pink one would really pop.  I plan on wearing this with my rehearsal dinner dress so I can consider it a wedding expense.  I've already worn this necklace twice this week (once to work and once out with friends) and it looks great with my new Hobo clutch.

I actually bought a few other items that I don't have photos for - a new flowy black top and two jcrew pencil skirts that were marked down from the already clearance price.  Now I'm on a personal spending freeze - I want a pair of booties from DSW (but they don't count because I have a store credit to spend).  I can't purchase anything else that isn't wedding related or a Christmas gift for someone else.  August has been a definite splurge month for me so now it's time to tighten up the wallet.

Gift From R...

I have been eyeing these Kate Spade "All Wrapped Up" earrings for a while now thinking they would be the perfect addition to my dress for Best Friend's wedding.  I also thought it would be a nice excuse to get a new accessory (*wink).  R beat me to the purchase and wanted to surprise me - either way now they are all mine!

Tag: Most Worn

1. Lipstick: MAC Angel

My newest lipstick, I got this in a Back to Mac when I was on vacation a couple of weeks ago and I’ve worn it everyday since. I’m totally addicted. I’ve already added this to my list for my next order to MAC so I can get one to leave in my desk at work. Usually I’m a gloss girl so it’s nice to have a few lipsticks that are so wearable.

2. Earrings: Sterling Silver Love Knots

Love knots are classy and perfect for work. These never go in my jewelry box, they sit on my vanity and I wear them a few times a week. The funny thing is, my mom has two pairs and she wears them nearly every day.

3. Dress/Top: Gap Teal Dress

I bought this a few weeks ago and included it in a shopping spree post. It is my go to dress in the afternoons when I get home from work I can change into it and lounge around the house or go out to dinner. It has been 90+ degrees and humid here so this dress keeps me cool and chic.

4. Nail Polish: Esse Mademoiselle

This polish is easy. If I’m pressed for time I can put on one coat and go out or I can put on two for a bit more sheen. The formula is great for not showing imperfections, especially if you don’t have to time reapply a top coat in the week.

5. Shoes: Silver Sandals from Fahrenheit

These are new but I’ve worn them almost every day since I got them. These are the shoes that I reach for when I come home from work to run errands. It’s very convenient that they’re very comfortable and they go with all my skirts and summer dresses. I’ve abandoned my trusty Rainbow Flops for these because they dress up my casual outfits.

6. Hair Product: Chi Silk Infusion or Pravana Curl Enhancing Gel

Depending on whether I want to heat style my hair straight or wear my natural curls.

7. Perfume: Lancome Miracle

I’m bitter about perfume right now. I am trying to use as much of what I have and ask for new ones for Christmas. This bottle has been untouched in the four years I’ve owned it so I’m trying to use it up. This scent is the only one I have that isn’t too strong for work. I don’t love it in a “need it gotta have it” way but I am trying to use it so for now this is my daily perfume. I have two others I am trying to finish that I wear at nights or on weekends.

8. Handbag: Coach Bag

This is a dark red leather bag that I showed in my “what’s in your purse” post. It is my work purse, big enough for all my necessities and chic but not flashy. Which is good, because I work in an area of town that you wouldn’t want to flash any kind of designer logo.

Tag: Favorite Jewelry

Okay so before I started blogging there was a really interesting tag going around asking for your top pieces of jewelry. I was just reading some other blogs where the author was tagged and I wanted to do one too. I couldn't do five so I actually have six. These are the most sentimental pieces, not necessarily the most fashionable. My six pieces of jewelry will not date, I can wear them in 10, 20, or 30 years. 1. Yellow and Rose Gold Charm Bracelet. My mom bought this for me when I was 10 or 11 years old for Valentine's Day. The charms are: the letter A, a rose, Daddy's Little Girl, Mommy's little girl, heart with a bow, cupid with a heart, I love volleyball, and a diamond ring (my birthstone). The volleyball charm is bent because it kept snagging on my desk in school. I don't wear this bracelet anymore but it has a prime spot in my jewelry box and I have a lot of memories wearing this in middle school (and some in high school). 2. Cameo Ring. I bought this in Italy directly from the company that makes them. It is handcrafted using sea shells, each one is different, and I believe they told us it takes two weeks for a craftsman to make each cameo. I have cameo earrings as well that my mom has had since the 1970s. 3. College Ring. Instead of a traditional college ring I wanted something that I could wear with anything casual or dressy. I chose a black onyx stone set in white gold, on one side of the stone are the initials of my university and on the other side is the year I graduated. This was my mom's main graduation gift to me and I love it. I wear this ring almost everyday (for the past 2 years) on my right ring finger. 4. White Gold Bangle. This bracelet was given to my mom from my dad on their 2 or 3 wedding anniversary. This sat in a jewelry box for ages because my mom typically doesn't wear bracelets. The design on the outside of the ring is a small flower imprint with swirls going around it. Mom gave this to me when I was in high school and I probably wear it at least 3x a week. 5. Pearl Necklace. Beautiful off white pearls with a gold clasp. My boyfriend bought these for me for college graduation and they match perfectly with the pearl earrings my mom gave me on my 16th birthday. 6. Citizens Eco Drive Watch. This was a birthday gift from my boyfriend. I work in a hospital and knowing the correct time is important when I'm charting (my battery in my other watch died one morning during my rounds). This watch never needs a battery, the face of the watch is sensitive to light, natural and artificial, and it recharges the watch. Mine has a bracelet band, a black mother of pearl face, and little diamonds around the band and on the watch face instead of numbers. I consider this a dressy casual watch, it looks sporty for casual outfits and the diamonds dress it up for work outfits.